Game industry business news

GAMEFEST 08: New version adds compute shaders for GPGPU; completely compatible with DirectX 10 hardware

The Wii has been crowned the fastest-selling console ever down under after Nintendo Australia revealed that it has beaten PS2 and DS to the half a milion sales milestone. Gamespot Australia reports that Wii only took 84 weeks to top the 500,000 units mark, while previous record holders PS2 and …

At GAMEFEST 08, Seattle, Microsoft revealed online features of Games for Windows Live will now be offered free to gamers. Previously Games For Windows Live users had to pay a premium to use the facility, but as part of a major revamp of the system the firm has waived subscription …

UKT&I award opens doors to providing financial support for UK exporters

GAMEFEST 08: Format-holder has â??no short term planâ?? for games with UGC â?? but says devs are welcome to try

GAMEFEST 08: Microsoft challenges WiiWare and AppStore with 70 per cent of profits given to XNA creators

GAMEFEST 08: XNA general manager becomes CTO of MS' Interactive Entertainment Business

Retailers have called on their rivals to quit selling R4 cards, after the revelation that DS software sales are suffering at the hands of growing piracy (MCV11/07). SimplyGames.com – one of the retailers highlighted in last week’s MCV story – has already pulled the R4 from its website, and boss …

The head of digital at Nickelodeon, Steve Youngwood, has told CasualGaming.biz that, to his firm: What video is to TV, games is to online.” Youngwood was speaking as part of a wider interview on Nickelodeon’s ambitions in the casual games space, to which it has pledged $100m. The goal is …

The president of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, Hirokazu Hamamura, believes that PS3’s slow penetration” in Japan is improving – but that it could still use a price cut before year end. Speaking exclusively to Famitsu media partner MCV, Hamamura said: The PS3’s penetration pace has been slower than I expected. Its …